The Band’s precise origins were shrouded in musical mists, so we got on the case! We had enough clues to settle on 1975 as our best-guess start-point, so we can celebrate the inspirational musicians who began it all, and those who’ve played through the years. We want our 50th celebrations to encourage future musicians and to give heartfelt thanks to the wider Barnes community that has supported us.
And then – drum roll – the son of one Arthur Robert Drane got in touch. Bob Drane was a young soldier, posted to India in the 1920s, the time of Empire. He learned trombone in the Army. When he left, he became a welder and eventually settled in Mortlake. Retirement loomed, so in the mid-1970s, living in a flat on Mortlake High Street, his son Gordon recalls a second-hand trombone appearing and practice re-starting, no doubt to the joy of their neighbours. Connecting with other local players, the Band began. By around 1977, Patrick Smith became Music Director, with the Student Bandmaster training programme at Kneller Hall Royal School of Military Music providing the Band’s MDs for many years. The Band became a formal charity in 1978, and around then received a grant from the Barnes Workhouse Fund (now The Barnes Fund). Bob Drane resigned from the Band a few years later, thwarted in his desire to produce concerts specifically to support older people in the local community – long-departed, we hope he looks down and enjoys the events we create with FiSH.
Eddie Pickering took over the baton in 1980 and an illustrious retired military music figure became Band President. Lieutenant-Colonel Trevor Sharpe directed the Coldstream Guards band when they recorded the theme tune for “Dad’s Army” – his name was on the end credits – and retained his professorship at Kneller Hall through the time he was connected to our Band.
For the early 1980s, we retreat back into those mists, until 1986 brought a new Music Director, Vince Eckerman, and the Band was chaired by Peter Kain, a trumpet player. The Band had a practical approach to developing musicianship in those days – Geraldine Worthington recalls playing an oboe line on her flute, whilst learning the cornet. One night, a member of the committee slid an oboe in its case into her hand, saying “take this home and learn it, we don’t need any more cornets, but we do need an oboe”.
(Celebrity moments: At some point, we hear that the great comic writer and actor Jimmy Edwards – who was born in Barnes – played with the Band! A multi-brass-instrumentalist, he guested with many wind bands. That local celebrity connection has continued with Gyles Brandreth, writer and broadcaster, compering a Coronation party for King Charles III at St Michael and All Angels church in Barnes, for which we were delighted to perform!)
From 1990 to 1994, Martin Ainley and Neil Morgan (later Lt-Colonel and Principal Director of Army Music) were the MDs, and Chris Gould – still a good friend and occasional flute player with the Band – took over as Chair. Alex Knox – another Kneller Hall Student Bandmaster – conducted a May 1994 performance on a barge for the “Richmond Lock and Weir Centenary Celebration” (in the presence of the then Duke of York, now Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, crumbs …). Flautist Jane Haslem recalls: “It was terrible weather and nearly didn’t happen. The Band waited in a pub, then there was a last-minute scramble to get on the barge.” The Band also played in that era at Richmond Fayre and the Putney Horse Show!
The remaining years of the century were distinguished with Alan Seldon and Ian Head leading the music, and Nigel Barnard then Jane Haslem Chairing the Band. For a while, the Band rehearsed in Barnes, at the Castelnau Library.
In the new millennium, Kieran Forsyth (tuba) and Dave Sumpter were passed the baton, with clarinettist Melissa Warren as Chair. By 2007 the team were MD Wayne Hopla (last seen leading the Band of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment) and flautist Angela Wilson. Many of today’s players joined during the musical leadership of David Smith, from 2009 when Angela, horn-player Adam Philp and bassoonist Loveday Sewell Chaired the Band. Educational work continued in encouraging young soloists to perform, including future military bandsman Robbie Henderson on euphonium, Nina Pryce on trumpet, and flautist Tom Bithell. The Band then rehearsed at Shene School (now Richmond Park Academy) in Sheen.
During this period, BCB welcomed a visiting Swiss Brass Band, the Fanfare de Gryon, to perform in a joint international event – which featured the Alphorn and traditional Swiss music!
Alan Goodall, music teacher with Hounslow Music and trumpeter with the Band, spent five years as MD whilst the Band moved its rehearsal base to Sir Richard Reynolds College in Twickenham. Then we come up to date with Daryle Lowden, long-time clarinettist with BCB, taking over as Music Director in 2018. Daryle was a student at Kneller Hall and performed for many years with the Band of the Welsh Guards. Andrea Lee, another long-dedicated clarinet and sax, is our esteemed current Chair. Recent years have seen an ever-closer relationship with the Barnes charity that supports older people, FiSH; the Barnes Music Festival and wider ventures such as performances on Regent’s Park Bandstand and a Central London concert to mark 10th years since the Olympics with the Games Maker Choir.
Some of our current Band have been members for more than 20 years each – please take a bow, Clive Preston, Alexa Elstub, Charles Clifford and Joan Bovarnick. Clare Paddi Salters has been involved with the Band for many years – her son, Jamie, first came to rehearsals before he was born, played with us as a youngster (and still makes guest appearances), and via Birmingham Conservatoire hopes to pursue a professional clarinet career.
The Barnes Concert Band now has over 40 members, and a fabulous programme of concerts and events in 2025. Find out about us at our website – barnesconcert.band – and on Facebook/Instagram. If you have memories or information about the Band’s origins do contact us (through barnessec@gmail.com). We’re so looking forward to the next 50 years of symphonic wind band music-making!
Meet The Band!
Daryle Lowden, Music Director
Growing up in Plymouth, Daryle’s musical journey began with playing the Trumpet in school and local youth bands. He started to learn the Clarinet prior to joining the army in 1988 and after Basic Training he saw active service in Saudi Arabia, as part of the coalition forces that liberated Kuwait following the 1990 invasion. Further studies at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, led to joining the Band of the Welsh Guards in 1995. In addition to the ceremonial duties such as Changing the Guard and Trooping the Colour he has performed in many of the capital’s iconic concert halls alongside many of London’s professional orchestras during a career spanning 24 years. In addition to the numerous concerts, overseas tours, and recordings that the band undertook, a particular highlight was performing in a masterclass for Andrew Marriner (Principal Clarinet of the London Symphony Orchestra) – a dream come true after buying Andrew’s recording of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto some 20 years before! Daryle has been part of the Barnes Concert Band community for 20 years, as Principal Clarinet then Musical Director since 2018. He particularly enjoys the challenge of developing the band within a friendly atmosphere and entertaining our audiences with a wide variety of demanding and enjoyable music. Daryle remains active as a Clarinettist and Saxophonist in both Southwest London and his home in Berkshire.
Committee Chair and Clarinet – Andrea Lee
Andrea’s schooldays were crammed with playing clarinet in concert bands, ensembles and orchestras for local shows. Then her career as a government economist took priority, until the Band offered an opportunity to start playing again. Andrea recently took a music course with the Open University/Trinity Laban Conservatoire [which gave her experience in conducting the Band] and now studies arts management – perfect experience for our Committee Chair! Andrea says “It means a lot to me that the Band is welcoming to new players and we support each other to learn and improve our musicianship.” At our regular band socials, in between Covid, we’ll raise a glass to that!
Treasurer and Principal Trombone – Clive Preston
Clive has played trombone for over 50 years in orchestras, brass bands and wind bands and has been with the Barnes Concert Band since 2002 – one of the longest-serving members. He also plays with the Richmond Orchestra and occasionally deps with other ensembles. Clive’s professional life was in the City, working in IT – playing in the Band was always a welcome relief! He is a trustee at the Museum of Richmond and volunteers as a tour guide and roll librarian at the Musical Museum in Brentford. The Band are hugely grateful to Clive as he chases subs, balances the books, guides us expertly through music administration – and Daryle waits with bated breath to find out how much he has to spend on our new repertoire.
Website Manager & Flute – Liz Holden Bithell
Liz reached the dizzy heights of Grade 5 violin before a teenage strop ended her music career. Decades as a BBC News journalist, juggling family life, were lightened with an attempt to teach herself flute. Proper lessons and years of supporting primary school music led to Grade 8 and the Trinity ATCL teaching diploma. Liz set up local ensembles with children and adults, and founded the BBC Ariel staff orchestra. But with zero experience in wind band playing, she joined the Barnes Concert Band and is so appreciative of the Band’s support and encouragement of life-long learning. Ridiculously-proud of her best-ever result [in Grade 1 oboe!], Liz eventually staggered through Grade 8 violin, and absolutely loves the flute challenge of Daryle’s inspirational Barnes Concert Band repertoire.
BCB Secretary and Bassoon – Susie Herman
Life begins at …50. Well, that’s when Susie took up the bassoon, after years in a houseful of harps, harpsichords, cellos (her children’s) – and a huge collection of percussion instruments amassed during 15 years running Muzsika, a Family Music Centre in North London. (Many of these instruments have now gone to their new home at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where her daughter Katya established its first full-time Music Therapy department. A chance meeting with other reed-warbling enthusiasts at a Guildhall Double Reed Day opened up a whole new sound world including the Palace Band, the Bloomsbury Wind Ensemble – as well as opportunities to play in care homes and community centres, to busk on the South Bank, and to be a member of the You, Me Bum Bum Train Orchestra (quite an experience!) Upping sticks and moving south of the Thames opened yet more doors ~ to the wonderful Barnes Concert Band and its ever-increasing mini band and ensemble offshoots, and to the Barn Elms Allotments. A seven year waiting list for the latter, but an immediate and warm welcome from the BCB ~ even though I didn’t play the euphonium, tuba or French horn! With just the right number of concerts a year, Daryle’s wonderfully varied, challenging but not TOO daunting repertoire, and a delightful group of fellow members, playing with the BCB is a real privilege.
